Rotella Gallery

Truly awe-​inspiring photography gallery. A few doors down from the Leica Gallery, this is now a MUST DO for everyone I know.

This is a lovely gallery in Soho with good space, two floors, and plenty of light to give it an airy feel. And unlike many other galleries with aloof receptionists, the gallery personnel were smiling and friendly. I passed by, saw the magnificent polar bear photo in the window and promptly went in. David Yarrow’s exhibit should be seen and savored by any wildlife enthusiast, never mind photographer. Vibrant, vivid, these photos capture the spirit of these glorious creatures, from lions to tigers to elephants and more. The shot of the herd of elephants, with the babies nestled protectively between the adults, held such sweetness that I could only think with a pang about the herds decimated for that abhorrent practice called big game hunting. The big cats, in all their feline menace and feral beauty, exude such a grace that its sacrilege for homo sapiens to consider ourselves superior and entitled to exploit them. You look at the photo of the wolf and you feel as if you can touch him, so alive Yarrow’s photos seem. Yarrow’s captions are as compelling as his subjects, for instance, when he talks about the time went out into the bush with a noted Lion Whisperer and he had to jump back into his jeep because a lion charged him when he got too close. This is true wildlife photography, as raw and as dangerous as the animals. You learn amusing tidbits from Yarrow’s accounts too. Hey, going on Safari? Make sure you don’t wear Old Spice. Apparently lions are attracted to the scent! Yarrow works with conservationists to preserve his subjects and his awe and love for these breathtaking animals shows in his work.
The lower level of the gallery contained photographs from various photographers, also interesting but none as captivating to me as Yarrow’s wildlife photography. Go see these animals the way they were meant to be shot, with a camera lens only, and feel hope that homo sapiens will get wise enough one day to preserve all the species we are blessed to share this earth with.

So I realized that there are a lot of quaint little art galleries along W Broadway, below Houston Street. Unlike some of its neighbors, the Rotella Gallery caught my eye because there were actually people inside! (An aside: I admit, art galleries aren’t my forte, so it’s a bit intimidating to enter an empty gallery.) I know of Art Wolfe, but I’ve never seen his work displayed in all its glory. My goodness, the photography is astounding! Some of the places he’s been make you truly wonder how there can be such fantastical places in the world. It also make you a tad bit envious that he’s been there, or it gives you an itch to travel abroad yourself. Robert Rotella’s work is equally amazing, for different reasons. His work focuses much more on the primal elements of nature – close-​ups of exotic flowers, the mossy rocks breaking up a waterfall, the overlapping trees in a forest. I swear some of his work has depth in 3D… don’t know how he does it, but it’s definitely there.
As mentioned previously, the art director is very friendly but not at all overbearing so you can freely roam and scrutinize each work to your heart’s content. This is nice, especially if you’re invested in buying a picture. It’s a wonderful and worthwhile trip to make. :)

What a fabulous, beautiful gallery. The staff is incredibly helpful (and offered myself and my husband our choice of wine, beer, water or soda!) and were kind enough to explain the process that goes into creating the gorgeous images on the walls. My husband and I never felt pressured to buy, and it was so nice (especially in a neighborhood that can be as snobbish as SoHo) to feel welcomed. Considering what goes into the process of creating the images, I’m shocked they’re not more expensive! My husband and I fell in love with the image ‘Spirit Horse’ and will be back to collect it very soon. The staff couldn’t have been nicer. The atmosphere was warm and inviting. The store itself was magnificent.

Rotella Gallery is by far, one of the most captivating and interesting galleries in SoHo. I love the urban simplicity of the space — lofty and natural; allowing the vibrant photographs to stand on display as the real stars.
The staff is efficient, friendly, down to earth and very professional. I was so glad to have met Peter Pinto, the gallery’s director. He showed me a tremendous amount of insight into the artist’s work. After an in-​depth tour of the gallery, I felt he was a true matchmaker — connecting their work with my personal tastes and needs. He really heard what I had to say which gave me the immediate sense that he truly loves what he is doing.
I am proud owner of «Prado» by Art Wolfe. Upon my purchase, Peter immediately sent a «thank you» note; bringing a personal touch to our meeting and exchange. This was my first purchase at the Rotella Gallery and I know will not be my last. It is a «do not miss» when you are in SoHo.

The Rotella Gallery is not your normal, stuffy SOHO gallery. My husband and I wandered in one evening and were amazed at what we experienced.
We’ve wandered into many galleries in many places, but NYC galleries tend to be snobbish and, as soon as you walk in, you get accosted by people trying to decipher if you have the money to be there. This was not true of the Rotella Gallery at all! Peter, the gallery director, was welcoming and told us to enjoy our stay as we wandered through two floors (an amazing space!) of incredible photography. He never once made us feel like we were being scrutinized for affordability. What surprised us even more was the offer of a glass of wine to enjoy as we viewed the pieces. He told us to ask if we had any questions or if we’d like a refill!
As we wandered through, I was even more amazed at the work we saw. I never understood why people would pay for photographs but I learned a real lesson that night! Art Wolfe and Robert Rotella’s photography made me a believer. I was astounded by the beauty of their work. The ingenious way they blow up and mount the pieces is an interesting process… one you should ask Peter about. I also loved that the prices were of such a large range that we didn’t feel priced out: $ 700 — $ 25,000.
If you’re in the neighborhood, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t stop in. If you’re not in the neighborhood, it’s worth the trip,